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1,500 guardsmen called up to fight Calif. fire

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is calling up 1,500 National Guard troops to deploy to the Southern California wildfires.

He’s also asking President Bush to authorize San Diego-area military forces to begin coordinating to provide cots, first-aid equipment and possibly personnel to aid evacuees and firefighters.

Adam Mendelsohn, a spokesman for the governor, said Schwarzenegger talked to the president twice, and was told the Bush administration will start working on the request for military support.

White House spokeswoman Jeanie Mamo confirmed that Schwarzenegger spoke with Bush on Monday afternoon and said Air Force and naval posts in the area were ready to help.

“We’ll continue to work with the governor’s office on the needs,” Mamo said.

Earlier Monday, flames forced dozens of California National Guard troops to evacuate their barracks along the Mexican border. Guardsmen also were helping U.S. Border Patrol agents to evacuate threatened areas.

The Guard’s fleet of firefighting helicopters, however, was grounded due to high winds.